Improved shot-cartridge



A. R. DAVIS. Cartridge.

No. 12,545. Patented March 20 1855.

NJETEHS. PNOTO-UTMQGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. 0 c.

UNITED FFICE.

' IMPROVED SHOT-CARTRIDGE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,545, dated March 20,1855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABBO'r R. DAVIS, of EastCambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and Improved Shot Cartridge; and I do hereby declare thatthe same is fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawing, which exhibits alongitudinal section of one of the said cartridges when made of anelongated or cylindrical form.

In manufacturing such a cartridge, I mix the shot with wet clay, earth,or other plastic material, that when dry will readily crumble apart,using no more of such than will be sufficient to fill the cavitiesbetween the shot when they are laid together and in close contact. Themass of shot and plastic material is next to be worked into ballcylinders or such forms as it may be desirable for the cartridge tohave. This done, the same is to be rolled in contact with fibers ofwool, cotton, or other suitable material so as to cause their] tocompact, felt together, adhere to, and cover its external surface, andthereby form a coating or casing of sufficient strength or tenacity whendry to maintain the shot in place under transportation or while thecartridge is being rammed into a gun-barrel.

It is well not to cover the mass very closely with thel'elting, but tohave the cover somewhat loose, in order that the cartridge may readilyaccommodate itself to the bore of the gun. The advantages of such acartridge are: first, a saving of time in loading a gun, in comparisonto what would be expended by using loose shot; second, there will not beso much scattering of the shot when a discharge takes place as wouldresult when loose shot are employed; third, the cover of the cartridgeserves the purpose of Wadding.

In the drawing a a denote the shot, I) b the plastic material betweenthem, while 0 is the felted or fibrous cover.

The fibrous material used may be such as will readily felt together, orit may have size or an adhesive liquid applied to it to enable thefibers to adhere together.

The plastic material used should be such as can be readily crumbled topowder when it becomes closed in the cover after the cartridge has beenmade, the amount of tenacity of the material while lhe cartridge isbeing manufactured being only such as will serve to hold the shottogether under the manipulations to which the mass is subjected duringthe process of covering it.

I am aware that a shotcartridge has been made with a woven-wire framefilled with shot and loose sand and covered by paper pasted around it. Itherefore do not claim such a mode of making a cartridge; but

What I (10 claim is An improved shot-cartridge made by mixing the shotin a plastic material or compound of the character as described,subsequently reducing the mass to the shape required for the cartridge,and covering its external surface with fibers of wool or other materialfelted or applied thereto, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 12th day ofJanuary, A. I). 1855.

ABBOT R. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr.

